Extensible trap for railway-cars.



E. H. SIGKELS.

EXTENSIBLB TRAP FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLIOATION FILED OUT. 20, 1913. 1,083,762. Patented Jan. 6, 1914.

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E. H. SIOKBLS.

EXTENSIBLE TRAP FOR RAILWAY CARS.

Patented Jan. 6,

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APPLICATION FILED OUT. 20, 1913. 1,083,762.

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E. H. SIGKELS.

EXTENSIBLE TRAP FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLIOATION TILED OUT. 20, 1913.

Patented Jan. 6, 1914.

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COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH C0,, WA SHINGTON. D. C.

E. H. SIGKELS. EXTENSIBLE TRAP FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 20, 1913.

Patented Jan. 6, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co..wAslilNOTuN. D. C

ELLWOOD I-I. SIGKELS, OF WEST PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

EXTENSIBLE TRAP FOR RAILWAY-CARS.

Application filed. October 20, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELLWoon H. SIoKnLs, a citizen of the United States, residing at WVest Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extensible Traps for Railway-Cars; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to the construction of extensible platforms for railway cars and the like, such as are used to bridge the gap or space which exists between the main platform of the car and the station platform when the car stops at a station located on a curve.

The main object is to provide an extensible platform of the foregoing character which is applicable to railway cars whose vestibule plat-forms are provided with a series of steps to permit the egress and ingress of the passengers when the station platform is at a lower level than the car platform, such cars being provided with a hinged trap to span the space between the top step and the station platform when the latter happens to be at substantially the same level as the car platform.

In furtherance of this object, the invention contemplates the provision of an extensible member on the trap itself which will not interfere with the usual operation of the same.

The invention further contemplates the provision of novel means to actuate the extensible member, as hereinafter described.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure l is a more or less diagrammatic View showing the position which the car assumes with respect to a curved platform and also representing diagrammatically the disposition of the operating means for the extensible members; Fig. 2. is a broken plan view of the combined trap and platform extension; Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 with the extensible member shown in its extended position; Fig. 4; is a section taken on the line H of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a broken detail View showing the manner of mounting the trap on the supporting rollers; Fig. 7 is a broken detail view showing the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 6, 1914.

Serial No. 796,219.

manner of hinging one side of the trap to the car platform; Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic plan view of one corner of a car showing the means for actuating the extensible portion of the trap; Fig. 9 is a broken elevation of one of the trucks of the car showing the manner of cont-rolling the automatic operation of the actuating means shown in Fig. 8; Fig. 9 is a detail view of the valve mechanism shown in Fig. 9; Fig. 10 is an elevation partly in section of a different form of actuating means for the extensible portion of the trap; Fig. 11 is a broken sectional View taken on line 1l11 of Fig. 10.

Throughout the several views, like reference characters designate corresponding parts.

Referring to Fig. 1, the numeral 1 indicates the car body, and 2 an elevated curved station platform. In order to bridge the vestibule steps of the car when the same stops at such a station, it is customary to employ a trap 3, which constitutes a closure to the opening in the platform formed by the steps and permits the passengers to walk from the main platform of the car to the station platform over the trap, or vice versa. How'- ever, as shown in. Fig. 1, a dangerous space or gap is formed between the outer edge of I the lowered trap and the station platform,

so, in accordance with the invention, an extensible portion 14 is provided on each trap which is preferably automatically operated by the means to be hereinafter described when the car arrives at the station.

As shown in Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, the trap proper is constituted by a metallic plate or the like 4, which is preferably supported in hinged relation to the main platform of the car, such as by the following means. A hinge member 5 secured to the lateral edge 6 of the main platform 7 serves as a pivotal support and a bearing member for the downturned flange or edge portion 8 of the plate 4:- The adjacent corner of the trap is hinged to the platform by providing a hinge member 9, which may, if desired, be bolted or otherwise secured to a sill 10 of the platform, as shown in Figs. 3 and 7. A. rod 11 passes through the hinge 9 and is supported at its opposite end in the hinge 5, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 7. A down-turned lug 12 provided on the outer edge of the plate 4 serves to hingedly connect the plate to the rod 11. It will be obvious from the foregoing that the plate 4:

is capable of pivotal movements around the rod 11, as an axis.

Suspended from the plate 4 is the extensible portion 14 of the trap. It preferably consists of a frame-work made up of the cross-pieces 15 and longitudinal pieces 16. A sheathing of metal 17 is preferably applied to the upper and lower faces of the frame-work. The lower or extensible part 14 of the trap may be mounted in sliding relation to the plate 4in any suitable way, which will cause both the plate 4 and lower part 14 to move in unison when the trap is swung around the hinge rod 11, as an axis. One means for accomplishing this result is shown in Fig. 6 and comprises supporting element 18 secured to the extensible part 14 and bent over the edge of the plate 4. The part 14 is thereby permitted to slide outwardly, as shown in Fig. 3, but when the plate 4 is lifted and swung around the rod 11, the lower part 14 will move with it. The extensible part 14 is preferably supported along its edge 16 directly on the rod 11, by providing extensions 19 and 20 on the part 14 through which the rod 11 passes. If desired, the rod 11 may be supported intermediate its ends by additional hinge members 21 and 22 similar to hinge 9.

A spring 23, preferably positioned between the hinges 21 and 22, acting at one extremity on the plate 4 and connected at its other end to the platform of the car, tends to hold the trap in its open or raised position. A spring catch 13 is preferably provided to retain the trap in its closed position, but which is operable to permit the spring to either raise the trap or assist in the raising thereof.

In order to permit the extensible part 14 of the trap to slide freely, supporting rollers 24 are preferably provided secured to the platform 7 and engaging the under side of the sliding part of the trap, as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 6.

Means is provided for automatically extending the lower portion of the trap when a curved station platform is reached. Such means may comprise a cylinder 25, (Fig. 8), located at a convenient point under the platform of the car in which slides a piston 26 carrying a piston rod 27 guided at its outer end in a suitable guideway 28, which also constitutes a stop for a spring 29, which, by acting against a shoulder 30 on the rod 27, tends to retain the piston in the position shown in Fig. 8. A connecting lever 31 hinged at 32 is actuated by the piston rod 27 through a pin and slot connection 33-34. The slidabl-e part 14 of the trap is connected to the lever 31 by a suitable connection 35. It is obvious that when the piston 26 moves to the left in Fig. 8, the lower part of the trap will be shifted to an extended position, as shown in Fig. 3.

To reduce the friction between the two relatively slidable parts, to wit, the top plate 4 and the lower part 14, the latter is provided with rollers 36 suitably journaled in the cross-pieces 16 thereof and adapted to contact with the lower surface of the top late.

The cylinder 25 is supplied at the proper time with air by means of valve mechanism 37, preferably located on the truck of the car, as shown in Fig. 9. The valve itself represented at 38, (Fig. 9 is actuated by means of a shoe 39 adapted to engage a suitable extra rail 40 adjacent one of the traction rails. The shoe may be guided in a suitable casing 37 by means of flanges or the like 42 provided on the casing. A link connection 43 between the shoe and valve converts the reciprocatory movements of the shoe into rotary movements of the valve.

' The valve 38 is provided with a passage 44 which, in the raised position ofv the shoe 39, places the pipe 45 in communication with the pipe 46. The pipe 45 is supplied with air from any suitable source, such as a reservoir 47 located at a convenient point on the car. When the valve is in the position shown in Fig. 9 the air from the reservoir 47 is permitted to pass through the pipe 45, and then into the pipe 46 which leads to the cylinder 25. When the shoe 39 is lowered, the passage 44 of the valve places the pipe 46 in communication with an exhaust pipe 48, and thereby permits the air from the cylinder 25 to be discharged to theexterior. The shoe 39 is held in its lowermost position by a spring 49.

The end portions of the actuating rail 40 are gradually sloped, as shown in Fig. 9, in order that the operation of the shoe 39 may be gradual. One shoe on each side of the car will sufiice to actuate both extensible portions of the traps on the corresponding side of the car, since, as shown in Figs. 1 andl8', a branch pipe 46 may communicate with -the pipe 46 at a point intermediate the shoeactuated valve 38 and the cylinder 25, to

supply airto the corresponding cylinder at the other end of the car when the shoe is actuated. 7

It will be noted thatthe connections as above described for actuating the pair of extensible traps on one side of the car are duplicated on the opposite sideof the car, for the purpose of actuating the other pair, as shown in Fig. 1.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that as the car approaches a station, the shoe 39 will engage the inclined end portion of the rail 40 and be gradually'lifted thereby, until the valve 38 is in such a position as to admit the compressed air or other operating fluid to the two cylinders 25 located on the same side of the car as the shoe being actuated. The

V extensible parts of the two traps are then actuated through the intermediary of the links 31 and 85, as hereinbefore described, to bridge the gap between the platforms of the car and the curved station platform. As the car leaves the platform, the other end of the rail 40 permits the shoe 39 to lower under the action of the spring 49, and thereby place the pipes 46 and 48 in communication, whereby the air in the cylinders 25 is permitted to exhaust to the atmosphere, the springs 29 associated with the piston rods 27 serving to return the pistons 26 to their normal position, and thereby retract the extensible portions of the traps to their normal position.

As it may sometimes be desirable to prevent actuation of the extensible portions of the traps, a valve 50 is provided, preferably positioned on the platform of the car, which may be actuated to cut off communication between the valve mechanism 37 and the two cylinders 25 on the corresponding side of the car. It is obvious when the valve 50 is closed, the actuation of the valve 37 will have no effect in actuating the pistons 26.

The two traps which are actuated are determined by the positioning of the rail 40. If a station platform is reached curved in a direction opposite to that shown in Fig. 1, the rail 40 is placed adjacent the other traction rail, and the extensible traps on the corresponding side of the car are therefore actuated.

Figs. 10 and 11 show a different form of actuating means for the extensible traps. In this form, direct mechanical connections are employed instead of pneumatic means described above, such connections preferably comprising a slidably mounted plunger 51 carried by the car in any convenient manner, such as by means of the brackets 52 secured to the side of the steps farthest from the extremity of the car. The plunger 51 is mounted to slide transversely of the car, as shown, and is provided at its extremity with a shoe 53 adapted to contact with and be actuated by an actuating rail 40 sup ported in proper relation to the plunger by any suitable means, such as a bracket 54. A suitable shoulder 55 is provided on the plunger to limit the outward movements thereof. The movements of the plunger 51 are transmitted to the extensible portion of the trap by means of a lever 56 pivoted intermediate its ends at 57 preferably to one of the brackets 52, as shown in Fig. 10. The upper portion of the lever 56 is provided with a slot 57 in which engages a suitable actuating member 58 connected to the extensible portion of the trap. Said member 58 projects through a slot-way 59 formed in the side wall 60 of the steps into engagement with the lever 56. The end of the member 58 having connection with the extensible portion 14 of the trap is preferably provided with a circular or eye portion 59 which encircles the hinge rod 11 and has connection with the lower portion 14 of the trap in the same manner as the element 35 described in connection with the other form of actuating means, so that the entire trap is permitted to swing around the rod 11 independently of the member 58, but lateral movements imparted to said member 58 by the lever 56 will tend to slide the lower portion of the trap 14 to its extended position, as clearly shown in Fig. 10. The construction of the trap itself and the extensible portion thereof, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, is substantially the same as in the other figures. The plunger 51 preferably has a yielding connection with the lever 56 constituted by the spring 60, which permits a certain amount of play between the lever 56 and the plunger 51. A spring 61 is provided acting against a stop 62 at one end and against the upper portion of the lever 56 at the other end to return the plunger and the extensible portion of the trap to normal position when the actuating rail 40 releases the shoe 53. The spring 61 is of less strength than the spring 60 and the latter will therefore always tend to keep the extensible portion of the trap in its extreme extended position. ()bviously, if the extensible portion 14 of the trap meets with an obstruction during its movement, the plunger 51 will be permitted to move to its extreme position without causing any breakage of parts, due to the interposition of the spring 60. Furthermore, any irregularity, such as may occur in the rail 40 which would result in too short a movement of the extensible part 14 will be compensated for by the spring 60 which will always move the extensible part 14 to its farthest extended position. The mechanical connection, as above described, is duplicated for each extensible trap.

The extremities of the rail 40 in the construction shown in Figs. 10 and 11 are in- 'clined in a horizontal plane toward the station platform, so that the plunger 51 will be actuated by the rail 40 gradually as the car approaches the platform, and be permitted to gradually resume its normal position as the car leaves the station platform.

It will, of course, be understood that the invention is not limited to the details shown, inasmuch as the trap may be hinged in any suitable manner, and the extensible portion associated with and mounted on the trap in any suitable way. Furthermore, the specific means shown for actuating the extensible part of the trap are merely for the sake of example, since any suitable means may be provided for accomplishing the result.

l Vhat I claim is 1. In a railway car having a vestibule platform trap, the combination with said trap, of an extensible sliding portion associated therewith, and means to operate the same.

2. In a railway car, a hinged vestibule platform trap provided with an extensible portion mounted for sliding movements with respect to the trap and bodily swinging movements with the trap.

3. In a railway car having a hinged vestibule platform trap, the combination with said trap, of an extensible portion adapted to be bodily swung with the trap to an open position and adapted to slide to an extended position with respect to the trap when the latter is in a closed position.

4:. The combination with a car vestibule platform trap, of an extensible portion associated with said trap, and automatic means to move said portion to the extended position when the car reaches a station platform.

5. The combination with a car vestibule platform trap, of an extensible portion associated with said trap, and automatic means to move said portion to the extended position when the car reaches a station platform, said trap and extensible portion adapted to be swung in conjunction to an open position.

6. In a railway car, a hinged trap form ing when closed an extension to the main platform of the car, an extensible port-ion associated with said trap and movable therewith when the trap is opened, said extensible portion being mounted for sliding move ments relative to the trap when the latter is closed, and means to shift said extensible portion to its extended position.

7. In a railway car having a vestibule platform trap, the combination with said trap, of an extensible portion associated therewith, and pneumatic means to operate the same.

8. In a railway car having a vestibule platform trap, the combination with said trap, of an extensible portion associated therewith, and pneumatic means automatically operable as the car approaches a station platform to operate said extensible portion of the trap,

9. In a railway car having a vestibule platform trap, the combination with said trap, of an extensible portion associated I therewith, means to operate said extensible portion of the trap, and means associated with the right of way of the car to actuate said last-named means.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ELLWOOD H. SICKELS. Witnesses:

J. KELLY,

PETER C. MURPHY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patenti, Washington. D. C." 

